We have another edition of “Manchester Metrolink Then & Now” for you today and we’re still on the Second City Crossing.
For much of its length, the Second City Crossing (2CC) runs along Cross Street and as it does say it comes across other traffic. The tramway along here opened on 26th February 2017 as a vital extra link across the city to avoid the complete reliance on the original line via Mosley Street, Market Street and Shudehill.
On 14th October 2014 we take a look at Cross Street as it was. The bus stop bay is on the left with work underway beyond to start the construction of the new tram line. On the right is the Royal Exchange Theatre. This only opened as a theatre in 1976 although the building itself dates from 1867. It suffered serious damage in the blitz as well as following the IRA bombing in 1996.
10 years later on 12th July 2024 and the tramway has now been part of the street scene for over seven years. The Royal Exchange Theatre allows us to get our bearings with the left hand side having changed since the then image. (Both Photographs by Keith Chadbourne)